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BayCare Ballpark, Clearwater
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BayCare Ballpark

What a visiting fan needs to know: where to stay, getting in from TPA, parking and tailgating, what to eat and where to sit.

  • Clearwater, FL
  • Home of the Phillies
  • Fly into TPA

Plan every part of the trip

Games at BayCare Ballpark

Where to stay near BayCare Ballpark

Where visiting fans stay

From a specialist guide
  • Clearwater Beach
    Leonardo Suarez, Google Maps

    Clearwater BeachVisiting fans pick this

    15-25 min by drive. Fan guides recommend the beach over the hotels by the ballpark. You get the Gulf, Frenchy's grouper sandwiches and sunset dinners, and the ballpark is about 7 miles east on Drew Street or Gulf to Bay Boulevard.

  • Downtown Clearwater
    Poussy Ishak, Google Maps

    Downtown ClearwaterVisiting fans pick this

    10-15 min by drive. Cheaper than the beach and about 4.5 miles from the ballpark. Hotels include the Residence Inn Clearwater Downtown, and the beach is a short drive over the causeway.

  • US 19 near the ballpark
    Clearwater Threshers, Google Maps

    US 19 near the ballpark

    5 min by drive. Chain hotels such as the TownePlace Suites Tampa Clearwater put you minutes from the gates and from the Carpenter Complex morning workouts. There is little to do here at night.

  • Dunedin
    Manoli Stilianoudakis, Google Maps

    Dunedin

    15 min by drive. A walkable small downtown with breweries, about 6 miles north. Stay here if you plan to see Blue Jays games at TD Ballpark on the same trip.

Around the stadium

From a specialist guide
The ballpark sits on Old Coachman Road just west of US 19, next to the Carpenter Complex practice fields, with chain hotels and strip malls along US 19. Most visiting fans sleep at Clearwater Beach or in downtown Clearwater and drive in.

Map of the area

Tap a pin to see the place.

Getting to BayCare Ballpark

From Tampa International

From a specialist guide
TPA (Tampa International). It is about 15 miles east of the ballpark across the Courtney Campbell Causeway (State Road 60). Allow about 25 minutes with no traffic and longer at rush hour.

On game day

Checked at the source
Drive and park in a general lot, about 20 min. General lots A (Carpenter Complex), C (sports complex at Drew Street and Old Coachman Road), D (South Lot), E (Sharkey) and F (St. Pete College). Spots are not assigned, and passes load in the MLB Ballpark app. Free shuttle from Lot C, about 5 min. The ballpark gates. Free shuttle from Lot F, St. Pete College, about 10 min. The ballpark gates. Rideshare, about 20 min. South Lot (Lot D), off Drew Street and US 19.

Game day at BayCare Ballpark

Getting in

Checked at the source
  • Bag policy: Bags up to 16 x 16 x 8 inches are allowed and inspected. Everyone passes a metal detector, so put phones, cameras and keys in the bowl. There is no re-entry.
  • Cashless: Not cashless. Concessions, merchandise and parking take cash or credit and debit cards. An ATM is on the first base side of the main concourse, next to Customer Service.

After the final whistle

From a specialist guide
Every lot empties onto Old Coachman Road, Drew Street and US 19 at the same time. The free shuttles from Lot C (the sports complex at Drew Street and Old Coachman Road) and Lot F (St. Pete College) mean a short wait for the bus but a calmer exit than the lots by the gates.

One thing to avoid

From a specialist guide
Showing a screenshot of your ticket. BayCare Ballpark does not accept screenshots, so load your tickets in the MLB Ballpark app before you leave the hotel. Leave the camp chair in the car too: chairs are banned on the berm, but blankets are fine.

Food and drink at BayCare Ballpark

Bars near the stadium

Checked at the source
  • Frenchy's Tiki PavilionBefore or after

    601 N Old Coachman Rd, Clearwater, FL 33765 (inside the ballpark, beyond the left field wall)

    A tiki bar beyond the left field wall with mixed drinks, beer and wine for fans 21 and over. Seats around the bar are first come, first served during spring training.

    Away fans: spring crowds mix fans of every team, and visiting fans sit side by side with Phillies fans.

  • Original Hooters
    Faith Tucker, Google Maps

    Original HootersBefore or after

    2800 Gulf To Bay Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33759

    The Clearwater location of the Original Hooters group sits on Gulf to Bay Boulevard just south of the ballpark. It is an easy stop on the drive back to the beach.

    Away fans: a wings and beer stop with a mixed crowd of Phillies fans and visitors.

  • Frenchy's Original Cafe
    Craig Smith, Google Maps

    Frenchy's Original CafeDistrict

    41 Baymont St, Clearwater, FL 33767

    A small Clearwater Beach cafe where Frenchy's Super Grouper sandwich made its debut. It is the classic post-game stop for fans staying on the beach.

    Away fans: a beach cafe, not a team bar. Everyone is in flip-flops.

Things to do around BayCare Ballpark

Listed in the order they happen on game day. Each one earns points.

  1. Ritual65 points

    Chase autographs down the left field line

    Phillies players sign along the left field line in Sections 118 to 120 until about 30 minutes before first pitch. Be there when the gates open two hours early.

    Free. 2 hours before first pitch

  2. Photo25 points

    Photo with The Ace statue

    A bronze statue called The Ace, honoring the Phillies' Hall of Fame left-hander, stands in front of the west entrance. It is the easy team photo on your way in.

    Free. 1 hour 40 minutes before first pitch

  3. Eat40 points

    Delco's cheesesteak at the ballpark

    Delco's Cheesesteaks brings a Philadelphia classic to Clearwater, sold at the Strike Out Cafe and Home Run Grille stands. Fan guides call it the one thing to eat here.

    $. 45 minutes before first pitch

  4. Ritual65 points

    Watch a morning workout at the Carpenter Complex

    Before and between games the Phillies work out on four fields at the Carpenter Complex, right next to the ballpark, and you can see in from the left field concourse too. Workouts usually start mid-to-late morning and run into early afternoon, and watching is free.

    Free

  5. Outing50 points

    Clearwater Marine Aquarium

    A working marine rescue and rehab center on the way to Clearwater Beach, with dolphins and a manatee rehab center that guests can view. It makes a good morning before a beach afternoon on a day with no game.

    $$$

  6. Double header75 points

    Blue Jays game at TD Ballpark

    TD Ballpark in Dunedin is about 6 miles north, so a second park is one short drive away. The Phillies visit there on March 13 and March 21, 2027, and the Blue Jays play 15 home games that spring.

    $$

  7. Drink40 points

    A drink at Frenchy's Tiki Pavilion

    The tiki bar beyond the left field wall is the social center of the ballpark, with mixed drinks, beer and wine for fans 21 and over. Seats are first come, first served, so grab one early or watch a few innings standing at the rail.

    $$. 1 hour after first pitch

  8. Eat40 points

    Wings at the Original Hooters

    The Original Hooters group runs this Gulf to Bay Boulevard location about 1.6 miles from the ballpark. It is a quick, loud stop for wings and a beer after a day game.

    $$. 4 hours after first pitch

  9. Eat50 points

    Grouper sandwich at Frenchy's Original Cafe

    The grouper sandwich is the Gulf Coast meal to eat on this trip, and Frenchy's Super Grouper debuted at this small Clearwater Beach cafe. Go after the game and walk to the sand.

    $$. 5 hours after first pitch

Seats and shade at BayCare Ballpark

Where the sun lands on a day game, and which seats stay dry when it rains.

Shade and cover

Checked at the source
  • Sections 105-107, rows 19 and higher. The upper rows of these sections sit under the overhang and stay shaded for an afternoon game.
  • Sections 108-112, rows 18 and higher. The overhang shades these upper rows behind home plate and up the first base side.
  • 200 level. The 200 level has a roof over it, so it is the surest shade and the best cover from a passing shower.
  • Outfield berm and lower rows. Expect full sun. BayCare hands out free sunscreen at stations in the restrooms and at portable stands.